Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends.

This moment sparked his curiosity.

An academy that dares to set up such high standards is either a makeshift operation that's just trying to swindle money, or it might actually have some real substance.

If it's the latter...

What he needs most right now is a place where he can quickly improve his strength, isn't it?

An environment full of monsters—wouldn't that be perfect for him?

"Thank you for letting me know." Dai Mubai nodded to the men and casually tossed them a few Silver Soul Coins.

"Please have a cup of tea."

A flash of silver light, and the men hurriedly caught it, their anger instantly replaced by surprise, and they thanked the seller repeatedly.

Dai Mubai ignored them and said to the coachman, "We're not going to Solto City. Let's change our route and go see that Shrek Academy they mentioned."

The coachman paused for a moment, seemingly wanting to say something, but seeing Dai Mubai's unquestionable gaze and the silent Huo An beside him, he swallowed his words, turned his horse around, and rode in the direction the men pointed out.

Huo An looked at Dai Mubai, his voice low: "Your Highness, that kind of place..."

"Just going to take a look." Dai Mubai interrupted him, leaned back against the carriage wall, and closed his eyes.

"Anyway, it's on the way. If it really is just a hoax, we can always leave later."

He needs to confirm it.

What if there really are the monsters and opportunities he needs there?

……

After the carriage had traveled some distance, Dai Mubai arrived at the entrance of a village.

At the village entrance, a large crowd had gathered, mostly young men and women around Dai Mubai's age, with expressions of either nervousness or anticipation on their faces.

They were mostly accompanied by their parents, who were whispering instructions to each other, which seemed somewhat out of place with their surroundings.

At the village entrance, a simple archway was made of several crooked wooden planks, with a somewhat dilapidated plaque hanging above it.

The plaque bears the simple five characters: Shrek Academy. Next to these characters is a green monster head image.

Dai Mubai's gaze fell on the archway and the plaque, and he paused involuntarily.

Is this the academy that only accepts monsters?

The curiosity and anticipation that had arisen in his heart because of the "only accepting monsters" was instantly dispelled by the overly realistic scene of ruin before him, replaced by deep suspicion.

What decent teachers could such a dilapidated place possibly have?

What real geniuses could it attract?

Could it be that someone popped up from some remote mountain village, using this as a front to scam money?

He subconsciously glanced at Huo An, who was standing beside him. Although Huo An's face was expressionless, his eyes revealed a subtle scrutiny and suspicion.

Clearly, this Soul Emperor's guard also had reservations about the reliability of the academy before him.

"Your Highness, this place..."

Huo An spoke in a low voice, his meaning clear: he didn't think it was very reliable.

Dai Mubai frowned, feeling a little hesitant.

But then I thought, since I'm already here, I might as well satisfy my curiosity and see what kind of person this Shrek is who dares to spout such nonsense.

"Let's see." Dai Mubai waved his hand, suppressing his doubts, and walked towards the crowd.

At the entrance of the village, there was an old, long wooden table, and behind the table sat an elderly man who looked to be about sixty years old.

The old man's hair was a mess, like a bird's nest. He wore a gray cloth robe with some stains and looked sleepy. He was leaning lazily against the back of his chair, watching the young men and women queuing up.

On the old man's chest was a badge, exactly the same as the green monster head on the plaque.

A short queue had already formed in front of the table, with people waiting to register and take the preliminary test.

Dai Mubai silently walked to the end of the line and stood still. His clothes and demeanor were quite eye-catching in the crowd, attracting many curious and scrutinizing glances, especially with Huo An, who was following behind him with a calm and composed aura, making it seem as if he had an extraordinary background.

The procession moved at a slow pace. Young men and women kept coming forward, paying money, and then the old man would casually touch their arms or calves before releasing their martial spirit rings.

After most people released their martial souls, the old man's reaction was indifferent, even somewhat impatient. He would simply wave his hand and say, "Not old enough, next one," or "Insufficient soul power, you can leave." He didn't say anything more.

The rejected teenagers and their parents immediately showed resentment and even anger on their faces, but seeing the old man's lazy yet undeniably intimidating aura, they dared not cause any more trouble and could only leave dejectedly, muttering complaints like "what a lousy academy" and "a scam."

Dai Mubai watched coldly, his suspicions growing stronger.

The selection process seems quite rigorous, but the environment and atmosphere are really hard to believe.

Finally, it was Dai Mubai's turn.

He stepped forward, took out ten gold soul coins from his storage soul tool, placed them on the table, and they made a crisp sound.

The old man raised his eyelids slightly, his murky gaze sweeping over his face, then glancing at Huo An, who stood behind him like an iron tower. His eyes seemed to flicker slightly, but he quickly returned to his sleepy expression.

"Stretch out your arm." The old man's voice was somewhat hoarse.

Dai Mubai extended his right hand as instructed.

The old man placed his hand on him and pinched his wrist bone with his fingers.

"Your bone age is suitable. Release your martial spirit and soul rings and see."

Dai Mubai took a half step back and shouted in a low voice, "White Tiger, possess me!"

Dai Mubai's figure instantly grew taller and more imposing, his long golden hair moved without wind, and a sharp, wicked light flashed deep in his eyes.

Its hands swelled up, covered in white fur, with sharp claws extending out, exuding a chilling aura.

Beneath his feet, two bright yellow soul rings spiraled upwards, a standard configuration for a hundred-year-old soul ring.

Chapter 207 The Final Match

The old man looked at Dai Mubai's Evil Eye White Tiger Martial Soul and the two yellow soul rings at his feet, his eyes filled with doubt and uncertainty.

He frowned, looking Dai Mubai up and down. His gaze swept over Dai Mubai's understated yet well-made outfit and over Huo An, who stood behind him, silent and composed. He hesitated before asking, "Kid, do your family know you're here?"

This young man has an extraordinary presence, and with such powerful guards by his side, his background is probably not simple.

Although Shrek Academy only accepts monsters, it is afraid of getting into unnecessary trouble, especially if it involves certain large families, sects, or even the imperial family.

Upon hearing this, Dai Mubai gave a perfectly timed smile and said calmly, "Of course."

The old man stared into his eyes, as if trying to discern something from them.

But Dai Mubai's eyes were calm, and his smile was frank. Apart from the arrogance that belonged to a genius, there was no sign of guilt or hesitation.

After a moment's hesitation, the old man finally made his decision. He waved to the boy beside him and said, "Take him inside."

Regardless of this kid's background, since his talent meets the requirements, the academy has no reason to turn him away. As for the rest, the dean and the others can handle that.

As soon as he finished speaking, a soft voice rang out from the side: "Junior, come with me, I'll take you to the second level."

Dai Mubai turned his head and saw a boy who had somehow appeared beside him.

The boy had a full beard, but a pair of large, bright eyes that were lively and he was looking at him with a grin.

The combination of his appearance and eyes gives off a strange vibe no matter how you look at it.

This is probably one of the students who was responsible for guiding them.

Dai Mubai nodded and was about to follow the bearded boy.

"Young Master!" Huo An immediately stepped forward and spoke in a deep voice.

He couldn't possibly let Dai Mubai enter this strange-looking village alone.

Seeing this, the old man behind the table frowned, his earlier enthusiasm waning somewhat, and his voice carried an air of unquestionable authority: "According to the rules of Shrek Academy, parents and their entourages are not allowed to enter; they can only wait outside the village. The assessment process can only be completed by the student alone."

Huo An's face darkened, and the subtle aura of a Soul Emperor was about to emanate from his body.

Dai Mubai immediately raised his hand to stop him.

He glanced at the old man, then at the dilapidated village and the strange, bearded boy.

Although he was still filled with doubt and unease, he had a vague feeling that this academy was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.

At least, the glint in the eyes of the old man in charge of registration just now was something that an ordinary old man from the countryside would never have.

Moreover, since we're here, we should at least see what's inside.

If he doesn't even have the courage to go in alone, then Dai Mubai shouldn't talk about revenge or the future.

"Huo An, you wait for me here." Dai Mubai's voice was calm, but carried a commanding tone.

"Young master, this..." Huo An wanted to persuade him further.

"Don't worry." Dai Mubai interrupted him, his eyes sweeping over the old man and the bearded boy.

"I know what I'm doing."

Seeing Dai Mubai's resolute gaze, Huo An knew that further persuasion was useless, so he could only reply in a deep voice, "Yes. Your subordinate will wait here. If there is any situation, please send a signal at any time."

Dai Mubai said no more, and gestured to the bearded boy: "Lead the way."

"Alright, junior, come with me!"

……

In front of the Papal Palace in Wuhun City.

The huge circular arena was now engulfed by a deafening roar.

After several days of brutal elimination rounds, the two teams that will finally stand on the final stage have been determined, pushing the atmosphere of the entire Soul Master Tournament to its climax.

The Heavenly Dou Royal Academy team faced off against the Spirit Hall Academy team.

The audience seats were packed, surrounding the incredibly wide arena paved with special minerals.

Soul Masters and nobles from all over the continent are now focusing their attention on this.

On the highest platform, the main seat naturally belonged to Bibi Dong, the Pope of the Spirit Hall. She sat regally on her magnificent throne, her face beneath her purple-gold crown serene and expressionless, her deep purple eyes gazing down at the arena below.

Behind her on both sides were several Title Douluos from the Spirit Hall.

On either side of the Spirit Hall's seats were delegations from the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire, respectively.

On the Tiandou Empire side, Qian Renxue, disguised as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, wore her usual gentle smile, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. Her gaze would occasionally sweep over the papal throne, carrying a hint of complexity that was hard to detect.

Snow White sat beside her, her clear eyes filled with curiosity and nervousness as she intently watched the arena.

In contrast, the atmosphere in the Star Luo Royal Family delegation's area was particularly somber and oppressive.

The Star Luo group, led by the eldest prince Davis, all looked rather grim. Davis, in particular, stood with his arms crossed, leaning back in his chair, his lips tightly pressed together, his eyes so dark they seemed to drip water.

Xingluo had been holding back a lot of energy, thinking that after several years, he could finally redeem himself in this Soul Master Competition.

After all, the Star Luo delegation's Netherworld White Tiger was defeated head-on by Lin Wan during the Heavenly Dou Exchange Tournament, which was a great humiliation.

To this end, Xingluo has devoted countless efforts to improving the team, with the goal of winning the championship.

But who could have imagined that, fate would bring them together again? Before encountering their arch-rival, the Heavenly Fighting Royal Team, they first ran into the even tougher nut to crack in the semifinals: the Spirit Hall Academy.

After a hard-fought battle, they ultimately fell short, losing in disappointment and stopping at the semi-finals.

Looking at the two teams about to face off for the championship, Davis had mixed feelings.

He both hoped that the Spirit Hall could teach Tian Dou a lesson, and also harbored a twisted psychology that he himself was unwilling to admit: he hoped that Tian Dou would win.

After all, losing to the champion sounds better than losing to the runner-up.

On the stage, both teams had already lined up.

Team One of the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy was led by Yu Tianqing and Lin Wan.

Yu Tianqing stood tall and straight, his domineering aura from the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Martial Soul subtly revealed, his eyes sharp, and he was filled with fighting spirit.

Lin Wan, on the other hand, remained in her slightly lazy posture. Her silver hair shimmered in the unique sunlight of Haicheng, and her sea-blue eyes were so calm that it was as if she hadn't come to participate in a life-or-death battle, but simply to take a walk.

But as he stood there, he became the anchor of the entire team, attracting the attention of the vast majority of people in the stands.

On the Spirit Hall Academy team's side, the two leaders were equally impressive.

The leader was a tall, cold-faced young man, Qian Heng, the grandson of Qian Jun Douluo, a level 51 Power Attack-type Battle Soul King, whose Martial Soul was the Panlong Staff.

Chapter 208 Planning and Execution